Vending machine



April 16,1929.

M. H. RICHARDSON E'r Ai.

VENDING MACHINE Filed June l, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Jima/575 April 16 1929 M. H. RICHARDSON ETAL 1,709,192

VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1926' l I I l l I l I l l I I l 1 l I w 5y ill.

April 16, 1929. M. H. lcHARDsoN Er Al.

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 16,1929. A.

llltllTEll-l .STATMS latam PATENT OFFICE.

MYROIT RICHARDSON, OF CICAGG, AND ALBERT GEBERT, F WILMETTE, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNOR-S TO ABl/1., ICE MACHINE COMPLNY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 1, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in Avending' machines of the check controlled type embodying a rotatable article delivery member, and one of the objects ofthe invention is to provide improved means whereby the presence of an article upon the delivery member will permit the operation of the machine when a proper check is inserted, but when there is no article in the machine or if the article is not in a position to be delivered by the operation of the delivery member, the machine will be locked against operation when the check or tolren isinserted, and the check or token will then be returnedto the operator.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the Vseveral parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying` drawings illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 isan elevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and shoning the same disposed within a casing with the rear wall of the casing removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2*.2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure 2.v

Figure el is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is the actuating member ticle delivery member.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail on line .7-7, Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation, partly broken away and with parts omitted of a portion of the mechanism for actuating the package delivery member.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the deg supporting and guide member.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the controlling disc.

Figure 11 for rotatinfr the arsectional view ltaken is a perspective view of the detail perspective view of Serial No. `112,860.

lower portion of the casing taken from the rear showing the manner of positioning` the' article to be removed through the delivery opening.

l Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates generally a casing of any desired size and configuration, having a back 11 removably secured in position by means of a fastening device such as a lock 12.

rllhe frontof the casing is provided with a delivery opening` 13 through which the articles to be vende-d are dispensed, and within the casing is preferably arranged an incline or chute 11i for directing the article to the opening 13.

The delivery opening 13 of the casing is preferably of a length somewhat shorter than the length of the article to he delivered therethrough, andthe incline or chute 14 is beveled along its upper edge as at 14 and also inclincs forwardly as at l@ from the rear wall of the casing 1G toward the front wall of the casing, so that when a package 14C is delivered from a delivery member, to be hereinafter described, and while the package is substantially parallel with the front wall of the casing 10, the package will, it drops from the delivery member, be turned in such a manner that one end of the package will be advanced as it falls down the chute or incline la, so that the package will assume the pesition as shown in Figure 11. That is, so that one end will be projected forwardly and through the delivery opening 13 so that the operator may remove the package by grasping the projecting end.

. rhis also renders it possible to provide only a comparatively small delivery opening 13 in the front of the casing.

Arranged within the casing thus formed and preferably adjacent the lower part thereof and removably secured in position therein, is an article container 15, the back 16 of which is spaced from one of the walls of the easing to form a chamber 17 into which the checks delivered into the machine, will be deposited.

Nithin the upper portion of the casing is arranged a suitable check controlled mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 18. While in the present exemplification of the invention check controlledV mechanism of the type shown and described 1n United States Letters Patent 1,452,7 21, issued April 24, 1923, is shown, any check controlled mechanism suitable for the purpose may be employed.

Arranged adjacent the bottom of the container to extend thereacross and to form Vthe bottom of the container is a rotatably mounted substantially semi-circular delivery member 19. The ends of the delivery member are preferably journaled in theside `Walls of the container 15 and the member 'constitutes the bottom. of the container, a portion ofthe Wall of the' member 19 being` out away as at 20, for purpose to be hereinafter set forth. i

Carriedl by the member 19 is a pinion gear l21 which is preferably disposed Within a y a projection 27, preferably in the form of a roller, operates. This projection 27 is connected W'th a disc like formation 28 that 1s connected in any suitable manner With the check controlled mechanism 18 and is adapted to be rotated, when the proper check is inn serted, by manipulation of the handle 29 of vthe check controlled mechanism.

` W'hen the handle 29 is rotated the disc orl member 28 Will be correspondingly rotated and the member 211 will then be shifted in one direction according to the direction of rotation of the handle 29 and Will be moved in the opposite direction When the handle 29 is l thus rotated. y

During' the recipro-cation of the member 2e the delivery member 19'ivill be rotated about its axis through the medium of the rack 28 and the pinion 21 so as to first invert the delivery men'ibcr 19 to discharge one of the articles from the container. Upon the return movement of theA member 2i the delivery member 19 will be correspomlingly rotated so that another article from the container 15 will be delivered into the member 1i) to be ejected therefrom when the latter is again inverted.

The member 19 constitutes the bottom of the container and when it is rotated to discharge an article therefrom the body portion of the delivery member Will pass beneath the next adjacent article in the container and Will serve as a support for the remaining articles. Means are provided for locking the disc l 28 against retrograde movement from either direction in Which it is being rotated. That is to say. should the disc be moved in one direction to lower the element 25 it Will be locked against retrograde movement 0r if mechanism.

the disc is rotated in the opposite direction to raise the element 25 it will also be locked against retrograde movement. l

This means is provided in order to prevent theoperat-ion of the 'delivery member 1.9 by the insertion of the hand or an implement into the deliveryopening 13 of the casing.

This .locking may be accomplished in any suitable manner but preferably by means of teeth 28 on portion of the periphery of the disc 28, the periphery of theI disc adjacent the ends of these teeth being cut away as at 28h.

Mounted adjacent the disc is a dog 28c which is controlled by a spring* 28d, the teeth 28e of the dog co-operatin'g with the teeth 28a on the disc 28. r i

'A member 28t is mounted upon any suitable support an d is provided with offset portions 28g and 28h to form a guide for the end of the upper portion 25 of the reciprocable element 24.

The spring 28d tends normally to move the end 28b of the dog 28cv against the periphery of the disc 28 so that when the disc is rotated the dog ivill ratchet over the teeth 28a to permit a movement- Vof the disc in one direction but to lock it against return` movement. n

wWith this construction it will be manifest that the disc 28 must be rotated in one direction after it is started to rotate and after the tooth 28e of the dop; 28c has engagedthe teeth 2821until the end of the dog passes into one or the other of the notches or cutl away portions 28b of the disc, at which time the disc 28 may be opera-ted in the opposite direction, the dog 28e turning on its pivot to permit such operation, and when the dog;` is in the reverse position the disc may be rotated 'in one direction and will be locked against rotation in the oppesite direction by'ineans of the teeth 28a.

Thus it will be seen that after the disc 28 starts to move throughv the medium of the handle 29. it must continue its movement in the same directionfor a predetermined number of degrees before it be reversed.

The check controlled mechanism embodies a. check carrying member 30 having a check vscat 81 adapted to be brought into alinement with the check receivingV opening' 32.

The cbeclrcarrior connected with the handle '29 and when the check carrier is rotatedy to invert the check seat 81 the check 33 vided vvit-h a doe 36 for controlling the rotation of themember 37 of the check controlled Vhen the check is Vdelivered from the check carrier upon the support 311, upon the movement of the checltcarrier 3C in one directiom it Will be maintained between the support 34 andthe member 35.V l"Vhen the cheek carrier is rotated in` the opposite Cin direction one edge of the Wall of kthe check seat 31 will engage the check and force it against the member 35 to release the dog 86 and thereby permit the member 28 to be rotated', thereby actuating the operating member' 24 to rotate the article .delivery member 19.V Y

A member 88 is pivotally mounted by one end as at 39 and is provided with aA iine'er 40 that is adapted to be projected to ystand adjacent 'the path of movement of the check 83 Vthe return of the check to the operator When the machine is empty or Wien there :are no articles in the container to be delivered. f

The operation of the member 88 and the Withdrawal of the'nger 40 is controlled by the articles in the container and as they pass from the container into the delivery member 19.

This is accomplished by means of a member 42 Which is pivotallj-,f mounted in suitable bearings 43. One end of the member extends upwardly as at 44 and enters a notch or opening 45 in the end of the member 38. The other end 46 of the member 42 extends downwardly and is provided with a. bent or projecting portion 47 preferably adjacent its lower extremity. The projection 47 passes through a slot or openingr 48 in the rear Wall 16 of the container 15 and is also adapted to enter the slot or cut away portion in the Wall of the delivery member 19 to be in a position to be engaged by an article from Athe container when the member 19 positioned to receive the article,

When one of the articles passes into the member 19 it will engage and deflect the projection 47 oi the member 42, causing` the inem` ber 42 to rock in the bearings 43. This till shittthe upper end 44 of the member 42, causina` the member 38 to rock about its pivot 39, with th. result that the iineer 40 will be Withdrawn jtrom the path ot movement of the check 33 in the cheek carrier 80.

The check will then fall from the seat 3l and rvill be forced between the support 84 and the member to render the check controlled mechanism active. The check Will then fall upon a deflector 49 to be directed into the chamber 17.

After the article has been delivered from the member 19 and the latter is returned, the spring 41 will cause the member 38 to move in the opposite direction, thereby rocking the member 42 to cause the projecting portion 47 thereof to enter the slot or cut away portion 2O in the Wall of the delivery member 19.

Should the machine be empty of articles, the member 38 will remain in the last recited position and the finger Will prevent the deliveryotl the check 33 Jfrom the check carrier 30, with the result that the check will be returned to the operator.

The container is provided with a ile-nge 50, which cooperates With the frontvvall ot the casing 10 to guide the member 24 in its move ment, and t-he container together with the member 19 and the member 42 supported by the Wall of the container, may be removed as a unit from the casing 10 by removing` a single nut- 51 on a stud 52 Which passes through an ear or projecting portion 53 on the rear Wall 16 of the container. Thus by removingl the nut 51 after the closure 11 has been removed 'rom the casing 10 and by detaching the extremity 44 of the member 42 from the member 218, the container and delivery member together with the member 42 may also be removed as a unit from the casing.

While. the preferred form ot the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, Within the scope of the claims, Without departing from the spirit oi' this invention.

that is claimed as new is 1. A vending machine including` a container for the articles to be vended, a member` rotatably mounted adjacent the lower end of the container and forming the bottom thereoif, said member operating when rotated upon its axis to deliver an article, operating mecha nis-m located above the container and embodying` a crank, a vertical rack reciprocable bythe cranl-z, said rack extending to a point adjacent said rotatable member, a gear on the rotatable member engaged by the rack, and means controlled by the articles in the container for rendering` the said member inoperative by the tirst said operating mechanism.

2. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, a rotatable trough like member mounted adjacent the lower end of the container for rotation on a horizontal axis and 'forming the bot-tom ot the container, said member operatingJ when rotated on its axis to deliver an article, means located above the container -for rotatingthe member, the last said means embodying a vertical. depending rack, a pinion connected with said member and engaged by the rack, a member adapted to project into said trough to be engaged by the article therein for rendering the said member inoperative b v the said rack and pinion, and a easing containing all ot said parts, the Said container and CII member and the said rack and pinion being Vremovable as a unit from said casing.

member for rotating the latter, a rack en-` gaging the pinion, said rack extending to the top of the casing, acranlr also at the top of the casing for im iarting reciprocation to the rack, and means controlled by the articles in the container' for controlling the operation of the said rack. v

A. A vendingI machine including a centainer for the yarticles to be vended, a substantially semi-cylindrical member rotatably mounted adjacent and extending across the container to form the bottom thereof, means for rotating the member to deliver an arti cle and tol support the articles in the container, means adapted to project into the said member in the absence of an article therein to maintain the member against operation, the last said means adapted to ybe engaged by an article carried by the said member to permit the said member to be rotated to deliver the last said article, and means controlledl by the last said means for controlling v the said member rotating means.

5. A vending machine including. a container for the articles to be vended, means mounted adjacent the container for delivering the articles therefrom, there being a delivery opening for the articles through which the articles are delivered by gravity, and means for turning the article in a direction transverse to the length thereof and during its travel by gravity 'rrom the delivery mechanism to the said delivery opening, to project one'end of the article through the delivery opening. y

. 6. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, means mounted adjacent the container for delivering the articles thereirom, there being a de- Y livery opening for the articles through Which the articles are delivered by gravity, and means for turning the article in a direction transverse to the length thereof and during` its travel by gravity 'troni the delivery mechanism to the said delivery opening, to project one end of the article through the delivery opening, the said delivery opening being of a length less than the length of the article to be delivered therethrough.

7. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, there being a delivery opening through Which the y larticles are dispensed by gravity, means for discharging the articles sideivise from the 'supply to the Said delivery opening, and

means for turning the article sideWise on its passage by gravity to the said ldelivery open- 8. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, a member rotatably mountedon a horizontal axis adjacentthe lower end of thecontainer and forming the bottom thereof, said member operating When rotated upon its axis to deliver an article, means embodying a rack and pinion for rotating the said' member, a crank for actuating the rack, means for locking the said crank against retrograde movement during Ypredetermined portions of the cycle of oper- With said opening, and means other than the said delivery means forvturning the article ina direction transverse to its longitudinal axis While the article is traveling by gravity to the said delivery opening for projecting one end of the article through said opening.

10. A vending machine including a container Yfor the artic-les, a delivery opening through vWhich the article is delivered by gravity, means for delivering the articles from the supply in a position that its longitudinal axis will be substantially parallel with said opening, and means other than tl e last-said means and adapted to be Vengaged bythe article as it travels by gravity to the said delivery opening for turning the article in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis to project one end of the article through said opening, the length of said'opening being less than the length of the said article. i

ll. A vending machine including a container for the articles, a delivery opening through Which the article is delivered by gravity, means for delivering the articles from the supply in a position that its longitudinal axis `Will be substantially parallel with said opening, and means other than the last said means for turning the article in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis while the article is traveling Vby gravity to the said delivery opening for projecting one Y end of the article through said opening, one end of the said delivery opening operating as a stop for maintaining Within the container the end of the article Which is opposite to the projected end. j

12. A vending machine including a container for the articlestovbe vended, a delivery opening, means for deliveringthe articles from the container to the delivery opening,

.ing to advance one end of the article as it is delivered to such opening.

and a deiector extending in a direction across the container and therebelow, the body of the said deiiector inclining downwardly and forwardly, the top of the deiector inclining downwardly in a direction lengthwise of the deiiector from a point adjacent one end ot the detlector toward the other end thereof, the article delivered from the supply engaging the defiector to be bodily turned thereby in a direction-,transverse to the longitudinal axis of the article to project one end of the article through the said delivery opening.

13, A Vending machine including a casing, a container therein for the articles to be vended, a member rotatable on a horizontal axis and forming the bottom of the container, a pinion connected with said member and disposed between the casing and the container wall, means disposed above the container for actuating the said rotatable member, a rack eX- tending from the last said means, between the container and casing` Walls, and engaging the said pinion, and an element adapted to engage a portion of the said rotatable member to lock the latter against operation, said element being engaged by the article carried by the element for controlling the reciprocation of the said rack. A

14. A vending machine including a casing, a container therein for the articles to be Vended, a member rotatable on a horizontal axis and forming the bottom of the container, a pinion connected with said member and disposed between the casing and the container wall, means disposed above the container for actuating the said rotatable member, arack depending from the last said means, between the container and casing walls, and engaging the said pinion, and an element adapted to engage a portion of the said rotatable member to lock the latter against operation, said element being engaged by the article carried by the element lor controlling the reciprocat-ion ot' the said rack, the said container and the said rotatable member being removable as a unit from Vthe casing.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, on this-24th day of May, A. D. 1926.

MYRON H. RICHARDSON. ALBERT E. GEBERT. 

